六亲不认
liù qīn bù rèn
to turn one’s back on one’s own family; to show favour to no one
Character by character
六liù
six
six
亲qīn
kin
kin
不bù
not
not
认rèn
recognise
recognise
Example
他发了财以后就六亲不认，老家的亲戚来找他，他连门都不让进。
Once he got rich he disowned his family: when relatives from home came looking for him, he would not even let them in.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
六亲 is “all your kin” (one old list: father, mother, elder and younger brothers, wife, children). Usually an attack on someone cold or ungrateful; in reports on officials it can praise strict impartiality.
Learn this in Lesson 38 · HSK 5–6: 亲戚怎么叫 (What to call your relatives)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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